Pocket billiard tray



Mmm

Emu 31, T1939. F. MISCHLER POCKET BILLIARD TRAY Filed May 12, 1938 2Sheets-sheet 1 torneus 3l? i939. F. MISCHLER M5523 POCKET f BILLIARDTRAY Filed May l2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2` Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful :improvements in balltrays for pool tables of the type including a subway system andreceptacle for the balls and has for its primary object to provide, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a device which is adapted to greatlyfacilitate returning the balls to the table to be replayed after saidballs have been pocketed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a tray of theaforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly eiiicient and reliable in use,compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become ape parent from a study of the followingspeciiication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference 2O designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal sec tion through an endportion of a subway pool table, showing a tray constructed in accordancewith the present invention in position to receive the balls as they arepocketed.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. l.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the device. v

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the tray.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through a slight modiiication.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that thereference numeral i designates generally an end portion of a subway pooltable. The table l includes a conventional inclined ball return chute 2which, of course, has communication with the different pockets of thetable for receiving the balls as they are pocketed. At its lower end,the chute 2 terminates in a container 3 in which the pocketed ballscollect.

The reference numeral 4 designates a tray of any suitable material, suchas metal. rIhe tray l is adapted to be removably mounted in thecontainer 3 and, as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings,said tray conforms substantially to the shape of said container.

The tray l comprises a bottom 5, a back 5 and sides l. Rising from thesides 'l of the tray 4 are outturned, integral handles 8. The tray ifurther includes a restricted, open front portion 9 through which theballs enter from the chute 2. 55 The forward end portion of the bottom 5of the tray Il is folded back on itself in a manner to provide anintegral flange constituting a guard or retainer l 0 extending acrossthe mouth portion 9.

It is thought that the manner of using the device will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Before play starts andwhile the container 3 is empty, the tray l is placed in said container.Then, the balls as they are pocketed roll down the chute 2 over theguard itl and enter the tray It. When it is desired to return the ballsto the table to be framed the tray fl, with the balls therein, may beconveniently lifted out of the container 3 through the medium of thehandles 8 and said balls deposited 10 in the usual triangular frame onthe table to be set up again, after which said tray t is replaced in thecontainer 3. The guard lll prevents the balls from accidentally rollingout of the tray il when being transferred back to the table from thecontainer 3.

In the slight modication illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, thereference numeral ll design nates a pad of felt, rubber or any othersuitable material which is mounted on the back 6 or the tray li formaterially reducing or substantially eliminating noise when the ballsenter said tray as well as to cushion said balls. The pad i i may besecured in position on the back S of the tray l in any suitable manner,as at l2.

It is believed that the many advantages of a 25 pool ball trayconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood and although preferred embodiments of the device are asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that furthermodications and changes in 0 the details of construction may be resortedto which will fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. A device of the class described comprising a tray adapted to beremovably mounted in the ball collecting container of a subway billiardtable, said tray including a bottom, a back rising from said bottom,side walls rising from the bottom, integral handles rising from saidside walls, the tray further including a restricted, open mouth at itsfront for the passage of the balls thereinto from the subway system ofthe table, the bottom including an upwardly and rearwardly bent flangeextending across the mouth of the tray for retaining the balls in saidtray.

2. A pocket billiard tray adapted to be removably mounted in the ballcollecting container of a subway billiard table, comprising a bottom, aback and side walls rising from said bottom, handles rising from saidside walls, the tray further including a restricted, open mouth at itsfront for receiving the balls" from the subway system of the: table, aninclined flange extending across the mouth of the tray on the bottomthereof for retaining the balls in said tray, and a pad mounted on theback of the tray.

FRED MISCHLER.

